Heracles by nineawesomelane

Early Life

scottr318 — 2014-02-27 21:53:29 UTC

Heracles was born the son of a human woman and Zeus, the king of the gods, whom was married to Hera. Hera was jealous and sent 2 snakes to poison and kill the boy. But, Heracles was abnormally powerful. When the snakes tried to bite him, he grabbed their necks and shook them until the snake were not alive anymore. When he was a teenager, he was handsome and kept other Greek armies away. The King of Thebes, Kreon, married Heracles to his daughter Megara.

Insanity

scottr318 — 2014-02-28 17:34:09 UTC

Sadly, Heracles started to go insane. He was miserable though he had no reason to be. Megara was concerned and visited the Oracle of Delphi. The oracle told her that Hera was making Heracles the way he was and he needed to do ten impossible labors for humanity.

The Nemean Lion

scottr318 — 2014-02-28 17:43:40 UTC

Heracles' first task was to defeat the Nemean Lion. Shepherds told him where the Lion's cave was. He waited behind a rock until near sunset when the Lion finally came out. He shot at it with his bow, which was extremely powerful, yet the arrow didn't pierce the skin. He tried again and failed. Thew Lion could tell the he was no normal man. The Lion went back into his cave to escape out of the other entrance. Heracles went around and put a giant rock, using a tree as a lever, and sealed it. Heracles went in the cave and choked the Lion with his bare hands. He skinned it and wore it back to the city.

scottr318 — 2014-03-06 21:26:39 UTC

Heracles' second task was to kill the Lernaean Hydra. If you killed one of the Hydra's heads, two took it's place. Lolaus, his nephew, was to help him. Once Heracles killed a head, Lolaus would shove a torch into the stump. making it so another head wouldn't grow. Hera thought it was unfair, so she added a giant crab to the fight. Of course, Hercles and Lolaus won the fight. Heracles used the Hydra's blood for his arrows, making them poisonous. The King of Eurystheus, who was telling Heracles what his tasks were, said it did not count as he did not do it alone.

scottr318 — 2014-03-06 21:38:41 UTC

Heracles' third task was to bring back the hide of Artemis' sacred deer, the Ceryneian Hind. It took him years to complete this task as he was not as fast as it. She became angry when Heracles shot at it with his bow and went to talk to him, bringing along Apollo. Apollo and Heracles discussed and decided to have him bring the King the deer alive, as long as he let it go afterwards.

scottr318 — 2014-03-06 21:52:23 UTC

Heracles' fourth task was to bring back the Erymanthian Boar. He traveled to Peloponnese where the Mycenaeans lived (later the Spartans lived). He went through Pholoe, where the Centaurs. He was entertained by one and they tried to give him raw meat. Heracles wanted cooked meat, and told them so. He wanted wine, which was owned by the Centaurs. They did not want to give it to him, as it was the favorite of some. When the Centaurs found out, they began to throw rocks at them. He chased them far before letting them go and continuing his task. He found the Boar's lair and hit it with a rock. It went unconscious and he carried it back.